Construction underway on new 17 Avenue SE Bus Rapid Transit (PHOTOS)

The City of Calgary has started work on the 17 Avenue SE Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) that will connect the southeast of the city to downtown.

The two phase project will involve building dedicated, bus-only lanes along 17 Avenue SE between Hubalta Road and 9 Avenue SE in Inglewood.

Image: City of Calgary

The Government of Alberta and the City of Calgary both gave funds for phase one of this project. $64 million came from the province’s Green Transit Incentives Program (GreenTRIP) and $30 million has been allocated from the City from the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative.

The provincial government also allocated $21.25 million for the second phase of the project, with the federal government funding $42.5 million from the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

“We are pleased to be supporting the second phase of this project, which will provide Calgary residents with more transportation options, reduce air pollution, and help families spend more time together,” says Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

Image: City of Calgary

Phase one of the 17 Avenue SE BRT

Building dedicated transit lanes from Hubalta Road to 28 Street S.E

A complete corridor refresh along International Avenue including:

a new road surface,

wider sidewalks,

boulevards,

landscaping and

enhanced crosswalks.

Phase two of the 17 Avenue SE BRT

Building three bridges dedicated to transit vehicles

across the Bow River,

Western Headworks Canal and

Deerfoot trail

A multi-use path parallel to the BRT lanes to connect cyclists and pedestrians to the Canal and Bow River pathway.

Some intersections will be modified

A new BRT station will be constructed beside the Blackfoot Truck Stop.

The City says construction for both phases should be complete by the end of 2018.